Jean-Dominique Bauby (Jean-Do to his friends) could hardly complain. He enjoyed a successful career (editor of Elle France magazine), had three cute kids, his relationship with his separated wife was amiable, and his mistress had recently moved in to live with him.
Jean-Do loved women and life and the feeling it seems, was mutual: he was one of those fortunate mortals earmarked for love and happiness. Until one day in his 43rd year, a stroke deprived him of everything. Jean-Do was diagnosed with Locked-In syndrome, a paralytic state that incapacitates all mobility while leaving the mind crystal clear. When Jean-Do recovered consciousness in the hospital, he had just one working body part: his left eye.
Directed by Julian Schnabel, "Le scaphandre et le papillon" (international title: "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly") is based on the autobiography of Bauby, which he dictated to his communications therapist. Every day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bauby blinked out letters one by one, word by word, battling monstrous fatigue and optical strain. Immediately after publication Bauby died.